'Survivor: Redemption Island': New cast and another new twist revealed!

A Miss USA competitor, two former NFL players, and an Iraq war veteran are among the contestants who will be playing for $1 million when Survivor: Redemption Island premieres Wednesday, February 16 on CBS. But the most famous faces competing have yet to be announced, as two former players will once again be returning to the game, bringing the total contestant count to 18. (Their identities will be revealed later in the week.) This will not be the first time that two former players have come back to lead their tribes into battle: Stephenie LaGrossa and Bobby Jon Drinkard of Survivor: Palau returned for the Guatemala season, with LaGrossa making it all the way to the final two (where she lost to Danni Boatwright).

As for the 16 newcomers, they do not include 2009 Miss USA runner-up Carrie Prejean — who, like MMA fighter Kimbo Slice, was erroneously reported online as being part of the cast — but another 2009 Miss USA competitor, Ashley Underwood (Miss Maine), did make the cut. And a few of the other cast members do have connections to previous Survivors: Steve Wright used to play football on the Dallas Cowboys with Survivor: Guatemala‘s Gary Hogeboom, while Grant Mattos (another former NFL player) was encouraged to compete by his good friend Natalie Bolton (Survivor: Micronesia). Other contestants with notable pasts include Mike Chisel, who saw combat in Iraq, and Krista Klumpp, who was the head cheerleader at Auburn University.

In addition to the two returning players (who will each end up on a tribe after a drawing of concealed buffs), the other big twist to season 22 of Survivor is the addition of Redemption Island, where players are sent after being voted off and compete in duels for a chance to reenter the game at a later point. “We have all our duels laid out,” host Jeff Probst told EW.com while on location in Nicaragua just moments after filming began on the season. “Luck of the draw which one you get. Depends what time you’re at Redemption Island. Some will be a little tougher. Some will be puzzle based.” Unlike the hotly debated Outcasts twist of Pearl Islands, this time contestants will be informed of the twist at the very start of the season, and the people voted off and hoping to return will be stuck in the same conditions with the same supplies as everyone else (meaning no advantage in being able to refuel and recharge).

Filmed on the same beaches as those used for Survivor: Nicaragua, the season begins with the contestants (along with Probst) being delivered to their destination in style. “We came in on a Mil-17, ” says Probst, “which is a Russian helicopter that is owned by the Nicaraguan air force, and that was one of the baddest rides that I’ve ever had. It is a huge machine. You can’t hear a thing when you’re up there.”

Gelogd

"I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures."

Andrea may be only 21 years old, but she already has plenty of experience outdoors. ''I've been hunting and camping my whole life. I've shot seven deer and I've also hunted turkeys and lot of different kind of fowl.'' And now she's hunting human game!!! But this natural flirt also hopes to kill with kindness. Does that mean a showmance could be in her future? ''There's really only three [hot] guys. Honestly, I think I've been checking out the girls more.'' Alrighty then!

This former solider who saw action in Iraq has the best preparation possible for the rollercoaster ride that is Survivor. ''In warfare you see the absolute best in humanity and you see the absolute worst in humanity. It's a complete dichotomy of sorts. It's 15 minutes of chaos followed by a month of sheer and utter boredom.'' Mike actually applied with a former girlfriend for The Amazing Race, but when she backed out, he ended up on Survivor instead. He counts Rupert as his favorite contestant ever and Russell as his least fave: ''The dude was very watchable, however he just needed to go. I don't know why those tribes kept him in the game."

Krista knows something about being a leader, having been elected head cheerleader at Auburn. ''I am not the type of person to turn down a challenge. I've always been up for a big adventure and I'm pretty strong willed and hard-headed.'' And it seems living in the wild has its advantages! ''I'm actually really excited about not having to wash my hair.'' She counts Parvati as one of her favorite contestants but has no love for her former partner-in-crime, Russell: ''He had zero integrity with some of the moves that he made and some of the lies he told.''

This Fabio lookalike feels that — like the season 21 winner — he is a secret weapon waiting to explode. ''I believe I'll be an underestimated player out here when in reality I'm probably one of the most dangerous. Because I believe I'm much more intelligent than I appear. And I think I'm going to use that to my advantage. I'm athletic and I've got a good social game and I think everybody's going to have a hard time not liking me. They might see the long blond hair and just say 'Oh, he's just a surfer guy and doesn't really have a thought going through that head of his,' but in reality I'm measuring everybody up and I'm gonna know what's going on.''

Unlike some contestants, Francesca is not here for the experience or the exposure. ''I think that a lot of people come to play Survivor and they're kind of hoping for the best but I'm not hoping for the best. I didn't leave my family and my friends and indoor plumbing and meals at regular intervals to come and live on the beach and hope for the best. I'm here to win.'' This hardcore fan didn't have to think twice when asked about her least favorite contestant: ''Doesn't everyone hate Russell? I mean he's, like, awful. He plays to win. I appreciate that, but ugh, Ewwww. Sorry. He's awful.''

Gelogd

"I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures."

A 13-year NFL veteran, Steve played on the same Dallas Cowboys team as Survivor: Guatemala's Gary Hogeboom, but he lists Tom Westman as his contestant of choice. As someone who values ''honesty'' and ''integrity,'' Steve's pick for least favorite Survivor is pretty obvious. ''Russell was a little idiot. I would have voted him out. I would have done everything I could to get that punk out of there early. He was a cancer in the camp and I don't understand how they put up with it. But hopefully that doesn't happen in our camp. I'm going to do my best to keep things clean and straight.''

Don't let Stephanie's pint-size stature fool you. ''I am scrappy. A lot scrappier than people think I am. I'm really good at looking cute, but I'm better at kicking ass when I have to.'' (Don't believe her? Then just check out her work in the low budget horror short Zombie Hunter.) And while Survivor is known for its twists, there is one Stephanie was hoping not to see on Redemption Island: ''I know what I wouldn't want to see is other Survivors from past seasons, cause I saw Guatemala and that really annoyed me. I would be kind of like, 'This is my Survivor. You already did yours. This isn't All-Stars. Why are you still here?' That would really irritate me.'' Well, prepare to be irritated, Stephanie.

This former NFL wide receiver was encouraged by his good friend Natalie Bolton (Survivor: Micronesia) to be on the show, and he claims that, ''I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get to the end. And it's been visualized in my mind. I just need to go ahead and execute that now.'' As for his favorite contestants, he says, ''I liked Ozzy's game a lot and I like Sandra. And I really liked Boston Rob. His way with words was great.'' No shocker then that his least favorite is Russell. ''There was just a vibe there I really didn't like. But I would have loved to have played against him and seen what that was like.''

Give Kristina points for having a pretty good idea what fate is awaiting her in the elements. ''I'm expecting to be miserable. I'm expecting to be hungry. I'm expecting to be cold. I'm expecting for my feet and my hands to rot. I'm expecting to be tired and angry and lonely. I'm expecting all of it.'' But unlike, say, NaOnka and Purple Kelly, she won't let that deter her from her goal. ''I'm going to knock every person out one by one until I'm the only one left. I will do everything in my power. I will say anything, do anything, go anywhere. I will faint and throw up before I give up. I have to win. This is it.''

This criminal defense attorney/know-it-all always considers himself the smartest person in the room. Too bad there are no rooms on Survivor! Still, he believes his background will come in handy. ''I have a strategic advantage on the rest of the contestants based on my professional experience and based on my background. I have experience dealing with a variety of people in a variety of stressful situations and I think that gives me a big advantage.'' But will the fact that he had never seen the show before last summer work against him?

Gelogd

"I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures."

The former Miss USA competitor has a theory on why pageant girls have had success in this game before. ''Pageant girls are very strategic and very charismatic and I think you have to be likable in this game,'' says Ashley. ''I want to be likable and I want to build relationships with everybody. And through pageants you really have to work on that side of your personality.'' She names Stephenie and Parvati as her favorite players. As for her least favorite? Surprise! It's Russell! ''He's a jerk and I know you can't be everybody's best friend. But he was nobody's friend. Let's be real.''

How did Sarita end up on Survivor? ''They actually found me in Venice Beach. I was taking margaritas to the face.'' And while she counts Parvati as her favorite player (''I love the vixen''), Sarita plans to play much more openly and honestly: ''I'm going into it with a completely open heart, my instinct totally honed in on the other cast members, and I'm really just ready to vibe it out. To play it differently than it's ever been played before — just truly from the heart.'' Sounds great! Whether it gets her past day three is another matter.

In what sounds like a plot twist straight out of Xanadu, Phillip was recruited for the show when casting director Lynne Spillman saw him rollerdancing. Philip considers Rupert, Coach, and Boston Rob his favorite players, and insists that being one of twelve siblings will help him get along with large groups in the game. And while he's excited about playing, there is one thing he is not looking forward to about the experience. ''Well, to be candid about it, defecating in an environment where other people could potentially see you or there might be a camera catching you — that's not too exciting.'' (For anyone.)

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NATALIE TENERELLI Age: 19Occupation: Dancer/studentCurrent residence: Acton, CAThe teenage beauty had not watched much Survivor before she was cast, but ended up on the show after being on a professional volleyball dance team — don't worry, we have no idea what that is either — with Jennifer Parker of The Amazing Race (season 12). And she's already looking for another young hottie to partner up with. ''I definitely want to align with a girl — a younger girl. Because I feel like if I'm not in an alliance with another girl that they will be jealous of me if say, I'm with two or three other guys.''

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RALPH KISER Age: 45Occupation: FarmerCurrent residence: Lebanon, VA

Ralph got on Survivor the old fashioned way — he applied. And this southern boy may remind some of his favorite player ever, Big Tom. He plans to spread the love in the game...to a point. ''I love everybody. I don't hate nobody. But they got to be losers, 'cause I got to be the winner. I hate to say that but I'm gonna have to get one or two of them to follow me through to the end of the game and can their ass.'' Something to keep an eye on: Ralph claims he can make fire anytime, anywhere. We'll see...

Julie doesn't want to win Survivor. She needs to win. ''Financially, I have to. I'm here for one reason. I'm not here for the fame or the pictures or the glory. I just went through a divorce. I have two daughters at home. The divorce was ugly. I'm paying child support. I'm paying alimony and I have two girls 100 percent of the time and my house is in foreclosure so I'm here to win that million dollars. That's the only reason.'' Her favorite contestant? ''The whole world may hate me, but I like Russell. He's evil. But he played the game.''

Gelogd

"I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures."